About St. Expedite
St. Expedite (or Expeditus ) was a Roman soldier who made a dramatic conversion to Christianity when, according to tradition, the devil appeared to him in the form of a crow suggesting he delay his conversion until tomorrow. Expeditus crushed the crow while declaring “Today!” (hodie in Latin), and thus became associated with quick solutions to problems and fighting procrastination. He is particularly venerated in Latin America, New Orleans, and Réunion Island, where he is invoked for urgent causes, business matters, and against procrastination. He is typically depicted as a Roman soldier holding a cross marked “hodie” (today) while stepping on a crow saying “cras” (tomorrow). A popular legend claims his name came from a package of relics marked “expedite” (meaning “rush delivery”) that was misinterpreted as a saint’s name, and his historical existence is debated by scholars. Though the Catholic Church removed him from the official calendar of saints in 1969, popular devotion continues strongly, and he is often called upon by those seeking quick resolution to pressing problems.
Prayers & Devotions
